Skelmanthorpe RFM Blue Line

 Skelmanthorpe 

RFM Blue Line

Walking with Lacey

07/10/24

Moving into the autumn I have reduced the lengths of the walks to under 7 miles. This one along the Dearne Valley from Clayton West to Denby Dale and back via Skelmanthorpe was with Lacey and the weather was walking perfect, no wind and cool but not cold.

The walk started at the Chapel on Chapel Hill, Clayton West. The route ascended Cliffe Street up to Cliffe Woods and Park.

The view from the monument towards Emley Moor TV mast was crystal clear. The mast will feature a lot in this walk.

Down through Cliffe Woods with views of the mast. This was a wood loud with bird song.

Across a field and then down crossing the valley at Riding Wood. I always like these dark grotto like woody areas. I see mythical wood creatures in every distorted tree.

Lacey was full of cold but was insistant upon going for the walk and she was keeping up a good pace. As usual taking photos as we went. Passing a couple of fields we could see the warning signs of a developing rainbow across the valley. The village of Scissett was visible across the valley.

Just as we were nearing the style we realised that the large cow near the style was in fact a bull. Luckily it was chilled.

On the road at Lower Common we met a couple of ladies with a large curly haired ginger dog with a bow in its hair. I said hello to the ladies and the dog but the dog was very wary and would not sniff my hand. Guess what it went to Lacey as if she was a long lost friend demanding stroking. The dogs name was cute, Connie. Why is it dogs and horses are always attracted to Lacey?

We followed the road a short way to Cuttlehurst.

Through Cuttlehurst to the parkland around Bagden Hall.

There were strange mushrooms in the rough pasture and glimpses of the hall through the trees.

Following The Dearne Way from Bagden Hall past Lower Clough House we started to realise that we were passing some very old large trees. The pastoral views were lovely.

Past Stubbin House with views of Denby Dale appearing in front of us in the valley bottom.

 
The ubiquitous view of the mast and a ruin at Dobroyd.

 Down the lane into Denby Dale we dropped steeply down a holly lined way, useful to know for Christmas decorations.

Another very large tree dominated the lane. These trees must be hundreds of years old. We discussed the age of the trees and who would be on the throne of England 450 year years ago and decided it would be Elizabeth the first. Maybe we were over egging the age of the trees but seriously these are very big trees.

Over the stream and then on our left Denby Dale crisket club a venue JP played at several times both at junior and senior levels. I seem to recall he did quite well on this ground.

We passed the famous Denby Dale Pie Hall. I tried to explain what it was all about to Lacey but fear I didn't do a very good job. Through the village and up to the right along Cumberworth Lane we left the road and followed the lane towards Leake Hall farm.

We passed Wither Wood and the fields down towards the school where the starling were massing on the power lines.

Emley Moor mast was getting closer peaking over the trees. Around here we came across a man with a very friendly Rhodesian Ridgeback called Frank. 

We crossed Commercial Road at Skelmanthorpe, the high street of the village, and headed towards Pilling Lane. I pointed out the weavers cottages to Lacey with their small upstairs rows of windows. We discussed this for a while as Lacey was genuinely interested. To be fair it is interesting to see these kind of properties locally. They could easily be over 300 years old.

As we were about to enter Pilling Lane we were stopped by 4 policemen flying a drone. One of them explained they were looking for a missing person, an elderly man with dementia. I told him where we had been and the fact we had not seen him. He asked us to keep a look out for him and showed us his photo on a phone.We didn't see him but hopefully he was found safe and well.

We followed the ancient cart road of Pilling Lane with its large trees down into the valley.

The Kirklees Light Railway siding at Cuckoos Nest Halt had 5 carriages in it.

We followed the playing fields down to the river Dearne over the small footbridge and crossed the main A636 road back up to the chapel at Clayton West.

This was a wonderful walk with a preponderance of old trees many elusive squirrels and masses of small birds in the hedges and field boundaries. 

The variety and quality of this short walk was wonderful, even the bull was chilled.

Well done to Lacey despite her streaming cold she completed this walk admirably and as normal we had a great conversation.